Chapter 78
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Lightning Cram
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(2)
2.
Walking beside Ullan was Ivela.
She suddenly spoke up.
"If it's Dilia, she's the one who fought Noa in the preliminary round, right? The girl we saw at the cafeteria last time."
"That's right."
Ullan nodded right away.
Ivela's eyebrows twitched upward just a bit.
It was the expression she often made when something rubbed her the wrong way or didn't sit well with her.
A moment later, she asked again.
"You know quite a bit about her, surprisingly?"
"About what?"
"About this Dilia girl."
No sooner had she finished speaking...
Ullan nodded once more. He replied with a face that suggested it was no big deal.
"Well, I visit her every day."
"...Every day?"
At that instant, her complexion changed.
Her face stiffened slightly. But only for a moment. Ivela probed with a casual tone.
"Are you that close with her?"
"We are."
Ullan answered without hesitation.
It was the truth, after all.
And whether it was just his imagination or not, lately it felt like they'd grown closer much faster than in his previous life.
'She's been smiling more often these days.'
In his past life, Dilia hadn't shown much variation in expression. She'd always been stone-faced, spitting out only the bare minimum words.
But recently, she smiled readily and even shared trivial stories. Of course, only with Ullan, not anyone else.
'Guess that means we're close.'
Ullan nodded quietly to himself.
Meanwhile, the moment his answer ended...
"Hmm, I see."
Suddenly, Ivela's eyes narrowed.
Her voice carried an oddly cold edge.
Sensing the subtle shift, perhaps?
Ullan asked right back.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nah, nothing at all."
Ivela shook her head.
As if it were no big deal.
But she couldn't hide her sulky expression. Her face looked a bit pouty.
The moment he saw it...
A sudden guess popped into his head.
'Oh, does she want to get close to Dilia too?'
It was a perfectly reasonable hunch.
In his past life, the two had been so tight-knit they seemed like real sisters. Probably, Ivela felt left out since Ullan had been visiting alone.
'I should set up a get-together soon.'
Dilia had mentioned wanting to thank Noa anyway. Might as well arrange for everyone to hang out together.
It'd be great if they all got along.
Ullan smiled contentedly.
Not long after that...
The three arrived at the student cafeteria.
Lunchtime had just started, so the place was still relatively quiet. They were about to head in without hesitation when...
"Hey, kids."
A voice suddenly stopped them in their tracks.
Cheerful and bright.
The one calling out to the trio was a female professor with short green hair and yellow eyes.
"Sorry, but can I borrow Ullan for a bit?"
Stella, the professor of Practical Hunting.
She pointed at Ullan with a beaming smile.
3.
The cafeterias at Arsen Academy could be divided into three main types.
First and foremost was the student cafeteria, primarily used by students.
Next came the staff cafeteria, frequented by professors, guards including the Arsen security force, and other academy employees.
Finally, there was the professors-only cafeteria, accessible exclusively to faculty.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Once a month, a professor could bring a student along as a guest.
And today, one such lucky student was enjoying that privilege. A barbarian student wandering around shirtless. None other than Ullan.
"It's huge."
A cafeteria far more comfortable than the student one.
The walls and ceiling were adorned with ornate decorations and artwork, and the atmosphere was serene. Nothing like the perpetually noisy student cafeteria.
"And tons of food options."
Of course, the student cafeteria had a wide variety too. They even whipped up off-menu dishes if you provided ingredients.
But it didn't compare to this.
Even just looking at the menu list, it was worlds apart.
It felt like every delicacy from around the globe had been gathered here. As he let out an honest sigh of admiration...
Stella, standing beside him, shrugged.
With a proud look on her face.
She added an explanation.
"That's because the chefs here are on another level."
The president was a renowned foodie. He'd assembled only chefs with over twenty years at famous restaurants across the nations.
Over a hundred of them, no less.
Maybe that's why rumors swirled that nine out of ten visiting dignitaries requested meals here.
"So pretty much any dish you can think of is available. Of course, the prices reflect that."
Stella let out a sigh.
Out of the three cafeteria types, only the student one offered free meals.
But that regret didn't last.
Stella soon flashed a bright smile.
"Don't worry about it today, though! It's on me, so eat your fill."
"My fill?"
"Yeah, anything you want!"
Stella declared confidently.
At the same time, Ullan's eyes gleamed. Like a starving beast spotting fresh prey.
"Got it. Then I won't hold back."
He'd been eyeing some dishes anyway.
So without hesitation, he started ordering. Stella watched him fondly.
But only for a moment.
As Ullan rattled off dish names nonstop and the order slip grew longer, her face drained of color.
The instant she realized something was off...
Stella hurriedly reached out.
"W-Wait a sec!"
"Hm? What's up?"
"You're really gonna eat all that?"
"This isn't quite enough."
"...Not enough?"
That was already ten person-worths?
She stared blankly, but no answer came. Ullan kept on ordering.
Focusing on the priciest meats.
How much time passed like that?
"This should do it."
"Understood. We'll have it out shortly."
The server bowed politely.
Then headed to the kitchen, order slip trailing like a scroll.
At that moment, Stella sat stunned.
'Farewell, my wallet.'
And rightly so.
Ullan's order had just wiped out her entire monthly salary.
As she shed invisible tears inside, the food soon arrived.
A feast laid out in abundance.
Ullan dug in immediately.
Crunch crunch! Slurp slurp!
A battle-hardened feast.
No manners or etiquette in sight.
Perhaps because of that...
Nearby professors from other departments frowned and moved seats.
Not that the man himself cared a whit.
Not long after...
Ullan finished in the blink of an eye.
He patted his full belly contentedly and grinned.
"Thanks to you, I ate well. It was delicious."
"H-Haha. Good, glad you liked it."
She hadn't thought he'd actually finish it all.
It was like watching food vanish into thin air. As she nodded dazedly in shock...
"Now then, let's hear the business."
Ullan cut in abruptly.
"Huh? Business?"
"You singled me out like this, so it must be something private."
His expression turned serious.
Stella pulled herself together.
Remembering she did indeed have business with him, just as he'd said.
After slapping her cheeks lightly to clear her mind...
She nodded, shaking off distractions.
"Sharp as ever. Yeah, I called you here today because I have a few things to tell you about the Abyss Worshipper attack from before."
Stella's eyes grew calm.
As serious as Ullan's. Soon, she broached the first topic.
"First off, the practical exam results you're probably most curious about. Since it got cut short, we excluded the survival portion. We judged based solely on hunting spoils."
Stella paused briefly.
A server had brought dessert now that the meal was done.
Cake with coffee and fruit.
But Ullan showed no interest, asking right away.
"So who came in first?"
"No need to ask—you and Dilia, obviously. You two outgrew student level ages ago, and you synergize well."
Ullan, at the Master realm.
Dilia, upper-level mage tier.
With the top firepower teamed up, the outcome was decided from the start.
And proving it, their spoils were overwhelmingly massive.
Double what all other students combined had gathered.
"As promised, written exams are waived."
"That's a relief."
Ullan grinned.
A deeply satisfied smile.
One headache down. Meanwhile, Stella's face darkened slightly.
"Next, I owe you an apology."
"Apology?"
"Yeah, about your credit for taking down those Abyss Worshippers going to the Special Task Force."
Come to think of it, that's what happened.
As the memory surfaced...
Stella suddenly bowed her head toward him.
"Sorry. It should've been your achievement, but the investigation team announced it that way..."
Strictly speaking, it wasn't the investigation team's fault.
The Military Department's Dean, Berje Erkazan, had decided it personally.
But she couldn't spill Ullan's recruitment plans, so she pinned it on the team.
Still, guilt gnawed at her.
So she bowed without regard for appearances. Sincerely, this time.
Yet the person in question responded indifferently, as if it were trivial.
"Doesn't bother me."
"...What?"
"They weren't impressive enough to call achievements. No need to worry."
Ullan stated flatly.
Utterly unconcerned.
Naturally so. To him, who'd battled hordes of Abyss creatures in his past life, Worshippers were mere small fry.
'To brag about feats, you'd need at least an Abyss Lord.'
Hundreds or thousands of Worshippers? Not worth boasting over—barely appetizer material.
Waste of time arguing who got the kill.
"..."
Meanwhile, Stella wore a strange expression.
The investigation report said five upper mages and one magic warrior.
And that wasn't impressive?
'Masters really are in another league.'
Separately, she was genuinely impressed by his lack of greed for credit.
Unlike hunters clamoring for kills. Her gaze toward Ullan shifted subtly.
"Anyway, thanks for understanding."
Stella bowed again. Gratitude, not apology, this time.
With the exchange wrapped up...
She spoke once more.
"Last is a heads-up. I heard you missed some exams giving statements to the investigation team, right?"
"Yes."
Ullan nodded.
Tracking and Magical Combat.
Unlucky courses where suspensions last month limited him to four attendances each. Not enough days for exams.
'Still...'
He wanted to take those tests.
Because they were practicals.
For written-exam-weak Ullan, maxing scores here was crucial.
To offset the finals somehow.
'But now it's impossible.'
He'd skipped them cooperating with statements. Half-resigned, an unexpected reply came.
"Don't worry. We arranged makeups with the professors."
"Really?"
"Yeah, unavoidable due to official duties. Dean approved, so you'll get proper tests."
Ullan's face lit up.
What he'd thought finished resolved smoothly. But Stella's darkened oppositely.
"One small issue, though..."
"Issue?"
"The professors' schedules made the dates kinda tight."
Stella answered hesitantly.
How tight? As Ullan eyed her...
She gave an awkward chuckle and held up two fingers.
"Two days from now?"
Plenty of prep time.
Tight for normal folks, but practicals meant minimal study.
He was about to say fine when...
Stella wagged her head no.
As if his guess was wrong. Then, with an embarrassed smile...
"...Two hours from now."
The moment she finished...
Silence enveloped them.
21. Lightning Cram